Former student destroys 59 university computers using USB Killer device • Hacker News Board

Re: Former student destroys 59 university computers using USB Killer device

#121

Post by lotsofpulp » Fri, Apr 19, 2019, 8:50 AM UTC

sp0rk wrote: post #76

1024core wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm guessing he's a rich kid from India, with rich parents who are bankrolling his education. I hope he gets the full 10 years. Nothing like the US Penitentiary System to teach you a lesson.

> I'm guessing he's a rich kid from India, with rich parents who are bankrolling his education. What is this guess based on?

In my experience, most are relatively rich compared to other people in their country. I am under the impression they have to pay full price (which the schools love) and they pay cash since loans are not available.

Re: Former student destroys 59 university computers using USB Killer device

#122

Post by talonx » Fri, Apr 19, 2019, 8:51 AM UTC

bukka wrote: post #103

The device was bought on a website that advertises it as an "ESD tester". Couldn't the student blame this on false advertising?

And then he tested it on 59 different computers, just to make sure it works?

Re: Former student destroys 59 university computers using USB Killer device

#123

Post by jwilk » Fri, Apr 19, 2019, 9:05 AM UTC

hprotagonist wrote: post #18

Long ago, I worked for my uni's departmental IT group. We made our own etherkiller, hung it on the wall with a sign "USE IN CASE OF SUN". Never used it in anger, but it was fun to dream about...

> USE IN CASE OF SUN

What does it mean?

Re: Former student destroys 59 university computers using USB Killer device

#124

Post by kosma » Fri, Apr 19, 2019, 9:05 AM UTC

stadeschuldt wrote: post #5

I am looking at https://usbkill.com/ . What is the purpose of the device? The manufacturer calls it an "ESD tester" yet there is an "anonymous" version available: https://usbkill.com/products/usb-killer-v3?variant=447760856...

It's not an ESD or a surge tester; the manufacturer doesn't even pay much attention to differentiate between the two. Surge testing is done with well-defined waveforms like 8/20us pulses of specific voltage; ESD testing is done by discharging a specific voltage from well-defined source like 150pF/330R. This one is simply advertised as "powerful", meaning it doesn't respect those specs.

To elaborate: surge/ESD protection components work on the basis of thermally dissipating incoming energy that exceeds voltage threshold. They're specifically designed to clamp single, short, high-energy pulses - not repeated pulses or constant voltage. A TVS or MOV will overheat & explode if you subject it to DC higher than its breakdown voltage, or if you subject it to repetitive load - they're simply not designed & rated for that because it's not what happens in the real world. You just don't get repetitive lightning strikes or repetitive ESD discharges in real life, and they don't protect against that.

TL;DR: With enough voltage & current you can fry anything and that's what the device does.

Re: Former student destroys 59 university computers using USB Killer device

#125

Post by kmlx » Fri, Apr 19, 2019, 9:10 AM UTC

tluyben2 wrote: post #90

Hydraulix989 wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Deterrence. To some, the damages are pocket change.

When we (Dutch) ask in school why our sentences are so low, it is explained that if the punishment does not fit the crime, you will be incentivized to add more crime because you are already facing prison time, so why would you care about a few years more or less. Aka if the crime for rape is almost the same as murder you might as well kill the victim to have less chance of being caught. We have not a lot of crime and…

here's an example that disputes your assumption: Japan has much less criminality than NL, and has one of the harshest prison systems in the world. you can leave your expensive bicycle unlocked on a crowded tokyo street and no-one's going to touch it. you can leave your expensive apartment completely unsecured and no-one's going to get it. they even still have the baggage lockers all across their subway. a lot of this is due to how scared people are of their police/imprisonment, and the subsequent social downgrade.

Re: Former student destroys 59 university computers using USB Killer device

#126

Post by notahacker » Fri, Apr 19, 2019, 9:25 AM UTC

Thorrez wrote: post #54

geofft wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's like hiring a gunman to start shooting up your office to train people about the dangers of social engineering, to prove that some people shouldn't be trusted.

Actively using it to harm others is different than just creating it.

Creating it and selling it is an obvious attempt to profit from the custom of those who wish to use it to actively harm others. There's literally no other reason for anybody to buy an "anonymous" one over a standard one which says what it does on the stick, and yet they're charging $5 more for the anonymous one...

Re: Former student destroys 59 university computers using USB Killer device

#127

Post by vortico » Fri, Apr 19, 2019, 9:28 AM UTC

subway wrote: post #71

gruez wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>The manufacturer calls it an "ESD tester" yet there is an "anonymous" version available plausible deniability. selling devices specifically for committing crimes is illegal. that's why all the bong shops say it's "for tobacco use only".

If you use that word again, we'll have to ask you to leave. They're water pipes .

Totally off-topic question to this thread, but what's the reason for being kicked out of those stores for saying "bong"? I would have guessed that as long as employees don't use the term, it's fine for the company for the customers to suggest what they'll actually be using it for.

Re: Former student destroys 59 university computers using USB Killer device

#128

Post by vortico » Fri, Apr 19, 2019, 9:29 AM UTC

TeMPOraL wrote: post #117

anonlastname wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I could see it being useful for when you want an easy way to get a high voltage spike out of a 5v power supply. For example, if you wanted to build a board for igniting the gas in a potato gun that ran off of a USB power bank.

Speaking of power banks, what would happen if you plugged this device directly to one?

Only one way to find out!

Re: Former student destroys 59 university computers using USB Killer device

#129

Post by tluyben2 » Fri, Apr 19, 2019, 9:30 AM UTC

kmlx wrote: post #125

tluyben2 wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When we (Dutch) ask in school why our sentences are so low, it is explained that if the punishment does not fit the crime, you will be incentivized to add more crime because you are already facing prison time, so why would you care about a few years more or less. Aka if the crime for rape is almost the same as murder you might as well kill the victim to have less chance of being caught. We have not a lot of crime and…

here's an example that disputes your assumption: Japan has much less criminality than NL, and has one of the harshest prison systems in the world. you can leave your expensive bicycle unlocked on a crowded tokyo street and no-one's going to touch it. you can leave your expensive apartment completely unsecured and no-one's going to get it. they even still have the baggage lockers all across their subway. a lot of this…

> Japan has much less criminality than NL

Seems that depends on where you look but it's at least on par or below, so point taken.

In Singapore it seems to work well as well. But I always assumed because it is so tiny they will always get you and you will get punished.

It is interesting to learn more and it is a difficult issue which probably is partly unsolvable, I show one perspective, but that might not work elsewhere. I just do not see the damaging a young person from taking part in society forever is a good plan, at all, for small infractions without bodily harm.

> and the subsequent social downgrade.

By no means I claim to know much about Japan but from what I know from reading/watching a lot about it I would wager it's more this than the punishment... But it would need research I guess to figure out why the differences.

Re: Former student destroys 59 university computers using USB Killer device

#130

Post by huseyinkeles » Fri, Apr 19, 2019, 9:30 AM UTC

TeMPOraL wrote: post #117

anonlastname wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I could see it being useful for when you want an easy way to get a high voltage spike out of a 5v power supply. For example, if you wanted to build a board for igniting the gas in a potato gun that ran off of a USB power bank.

Speaking of power banks, what would happen if you plugged this device directly to one?

most power banks don't have the data lines, and as far as I see this device uses the data lines to destroy the host. So I'll guess nothing would happen.